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Electricity Supply & Heating?

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:22pm
19 replies560 views8 members subscribed
DavidMBrooks

Posts: 33

3 helpful points

Location: Villena

Joined: 6 Apr 2019

Hi, our house in the Campo outside Villena. Our electricity supply is very low (4.5Kw, 5Kw?) and it keeps tripping. Is anybody making that low level power supply work or are you on a higher level supply? Is it easy to switch up?

Secondly, we are freezing! How are you all heating your houses? We have a log burner but I think it might be too old and too small for the house. We have portable gas heaters but they’re not ideal. Central heating would be ideal but we obviously don’t have a gas supply for a boiler.

Kelvin1960

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:39pm

Kelvin1960

Super helpful member

Posts: 1488

1767 helpful points

Joined: 5 Mar 2017

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:39pm

We have survived since 2017 on 3.4kw. It is necessary to juggle things around to avoid running >1 heavy load at any time.

We have almost completed a building upgrade, and await the luxury of 7.2 kw.

This required a full rewire, including the cable from the meter - which is in a neighbour's front wall - to our new consumer unit.

We inherited a log burner with the house, but the novelty soon wore off. Our home is a bungalow, so a single, centrally placed log burner wasn't much use for heating the home as a whole. 

Pellet burners are automated, and cost effective, but have the same issues regarding placement within a single storey building.

We went for a propane combi-boiler for hot water and radiator heating. Initially we had 12 small (knee-high) bottles, in two banks of six. CEPSA delivered on demand. In cold weather, 6 bottles would last 2 weeks. In summer, 6 bottles lasted 6 months.

We have just had this upgraded to a single 1000 litre tank.

DavidMBrooks

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:55pm

DavidMBrooks

Original Poster

Posts: 33

3 helpful points

Location: Villena

Joined: 6 Apr 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:55pm

Kelvin1960 wrote on Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:39pm:

We have survived since 2017 on 3.4kw. It is necessary to juggle things around to avoid running >1 heavy load at any time.

We have almost completed a building upgrade, and await the luxury of 7.2 kw.

This required a full rewire, including the cable from the meter - which is in a neighbour's front wall - to our new consumer unit.

We inherited a log burner with the house, but the novelty soon wore off. Our home is a bungalow, so a single, centrally placed log burner wasn't much use for heating the home as a whole. 

Pellet burners are automated, and cost effective, but have the same issues regarding placement within a single storey building.

We went for a propane combi-boiler for hot water and radiator heating. Initially we had 12 small (knee-high) bottles, in two banks of six. CEPSA delivered on demand. In cold weather, 6 bottles would last 2 weeks. In summer, 6 bottles lasted 6 months.

We have just had this upgraded to a single 1000 litre tank.

Hi Kelvin, Thanks for your message. That’s really interesting. So the propane boiler drives central heating?

It sounds like we might need to upgrade our power to 7.2 kw but I suspect we too will need a rewire. 

Thanks again, David

Kelvin1960

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:06pm

Kelvin1960

Super helpful member

Posts: 1488

1767 helpful points

Joined: 5 Mar 2017

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:06pm

DavidMBrooks wrote on Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:55pm:

Hi Kelvin, Thanks for your message. That’s really interesting. So the propane boiler drives central heating?

It sounds like we might need to upgrade our power to 7.2 kw but I suspect we too will need a rewire. 

Thanks again, David

Yes.

Propane heating/hot water is common here - propane is just a form of LPG, much like "FloGas" and "Calor" (for heating) or "Autogas" (for cars) in Britain.

There are a plenty of combi-boiler manufacturers. Ours is a Baxi Neodens 24. It is almost the same as the Baxi sold in the UK (but has no integral frost stat), and can be ordered for propane or natural gas.

Gas safety certification is necessary (repeated every 5 years), and then CEPSA will deliver. I assume Repsol will as well, but our setup is certificated by CEPSA, so CEPSA is our supplier.

Cheryl

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:24pm

Cheryl

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2973

3533 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:24pm

Hi David, yes, it's a bit of a shock isn't it, a life in the sun and all that! You look at the temperature charts from your nice cosy, insulated and warm house in the UK and think it will be a breeze but what you get is the icy blast through the windows and an ice box for a bathroom.
Like Kelvin we have totally reformed (not quite finished) our exposed villa in the foothills of the Crevillente range and after our first miserable winter here in our single skin shed we made some big changes. Apart from re-wiring and adding an earth, we have taken down every ceiling which had thin, badly fitted polystyrene sheets for insulation and have added thick rolls of quality insulation. We have lined every external wall  with insulation sheets with plasterboard over and also installed a propane combi boiler for hot water and radiators but will be keeping our two banks of five small gas bottles, it suits us.
Our electric supply is 3 kw and we have no plans to increase this as it costs more . We have a huge chest freezer and large American style fridge freezer obviously running continuously, every time a tap is turned on then the pump from the water store comes on, a pool pump which goes on overnight and all the usual things like washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher which either go on overnight by timers or weekends when the price is a bit lower. We don't have air conditioning because it affects my dry eye condition. I know I can't have the electric oven, the microwave and the kettle on at the same time....so we don't, it's no biggie for us and I can't remember the last time it tripped.
We only have the heating on for 90 minutes morning and evening with rads on higher in our bedroom and en-suite with the others just above frost setting and a bank of 5 lasts us about 5/6 weeks with all the hot water we want. The rest of the time we sit outside on the covered terrace with awnings around it because it is much lighter and as it is south facing the sun warms it up beautifully and we use a portable gas fire for chilly mornings and evenings, there is plenty of ventilation and one bottle lasts for ages.
We've also completely removed the open fire and the wood burner, I much prefer to just push a button!

If you are not planning on ripping your villa apart do some research on electric storage heaters which have come on a long way and will make use of the cheaper overnight electricity.

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Kelvin1960

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 9:25am

Kelvin1960

Super helpful member

Posts: 1488

1767 helpful points

Joined: 5 Mar 2017

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 9:25am

Cheryl wrote on Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:24pm:

Hi David, yes, it's a bit of a shock isn't it, a life in the sun and all that! You look at the temperature charts from your nice cosy, insulated and warm house in the UK and think it will be a breeze but what you get is the icy blast through the windows and an ice box for a bathroom.
Like Kelv...

...in we have totally reformed (not quite finished) our exposed villa in the foothills of the Crevillente range and after our first miserable winter here in our single skin shed we made some big changes. Apart from re-wiring and adding an earth, we have taken down every ceiling which had thin, badly fitted polystyrene sheets for insulation and have added thick rolls of quality insulation. We have lined every external wall  with insulation sheets with plasterboard over and also installed a propane combi boiler for hot water and radiators but will be keeping our two banks of five small gas bottles, it suits us.
Our electric supply is 3 kw and we have no plans to increase this as it costs more . We have a huge chest freezer and large American style fridge freezer obviously running continuously, every time a tap is turned on then the pump from the water store comes on, a pool pump which goes on overnight and all the usual things like washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher which either go on overnight by timers or weekends when the price is a bit lower. We don't have air conditioning because it affects my dry eye condition. I know I can't have the electric oven, the microwave and the kettle on at the same time....so we don't, it's no biggie for us and I can't remember the last time it tripped.
We only have the heating on for 90 minutes morning and evening with rads on higher in our bedroom and en-suite with the others just above frost setting and a bank of 5 lasts us about 5/6 weeks with all the hot water we want. The rest of the time we sit outside on the covered terrace with awnings around it because it is much lighter and as it is south facing the sun warms it up beautifully and we use a portable gas fire for chilly mornings and evenings, there is plenty of ventilation and one bottle lasts for ages.
We've also completely removed the open fire and the wood burner, I much prefer to just push a button!

If you are not planning on ripping your villa apart do some research on electric storage heaters which have come on a long way and will make use of the cheaper overnight electricity.

Hi Cheryl

We use so much more gas than you  ... I think you need to have a chat with my wife ....

I forgot to mention that we use the propane for the gas hob, but my wife prefers an electric oven.

JLee63

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 9:52am

Posts: 141

26 helpful points

Location: Orihuela Costa

Joined: 3 Jun 2021

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 9:52am

Hi

I am a Plumbing and Heating Engineer if you would like me to take a look at the Heating dilemma for you and maybe put some ideas forward please WhatsApp me on 00447311813707 and I will make appointment to take a look for you

Regards

Jeff Lee (AJ's Plumbing and Heating Services)

DavidMBrooks

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 10:46am

DavidMBrooks

Original Poster

Posts: 33

3 helpful points

Location: Villena

Joined: 6 Apr 2019

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 10:46am

Cheryl wrote on Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:24pm:

Hi David, yes, it's a bit of a shock isn't it, a life in the sun and all that! You look at the temperature charts from your nice cosy, insulated and warm house in the UK and think it will be a breeze but what you get is the icy blast through the windows and an ice box for a bathroom.
Like Kelv...

...in we have totally reformed (not quite finished) our exposed villa in the foothills of the Crevillente range and after our first miserable winter here in our single skin shed we made some big changes. Apart from re-wiring and adding an earth, we have taken down every ceiling which had thin, badly fitted polystyrene sheets for insulation and have added thick rolls of quality insulation. We have lined every external wall  with insulation sheets with plasterboard over and also installed a propane combi boiler for hot water and radiators but will be keeping our two banks of five small gas bottles, it suits us.
Our electric supply is 3 kw and we have no plans to increase this as it costs more . We have a huge chest freezer and large American style fridge freezer obviously running continuously, every time a tap is turned on then the pump from the water store comes on, a pool pump which goes on overnight and all the usual things like washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher which either go on overnight by timers or weekends when the price is a bit lower. We don't have air conditioning because it affects my dry eye condition. I know I can't have the electric oven, the microwave and the kettle on at the same time....so we don't, it's no biggie for us and I can't remember the last time it tripped.
We only have the heating on for 90 minutes morning and evening with rads on higher in our bedroom and en-suite with the others just above frost setting and a bank of 5 lasts us about 5/6 weeks with all the hot water we want. The rest of the time we sit outside on the covered terrace with awnings around it because it is much lighter and as it is south facing the sun warms it up beautifully and we use a portable gas fire for chilly mornings and evenings, there is plenty of ventilation and one bottle lasts for ages.
We've also completely removed the open fire and the wood burner, I much prefer to just push a button!

If you are not planning on ripping your villa apart do some research on electric storage heaters which have come on a long way and will make use of the cheaper overnight electricity.

Hi Cheryl,

Thanks for your reply, it was really helpful as well, and sounds SO much like our situation! 

I'll have a look at electric storage heaters.

Thanks you, David

Cheryl

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 1:05pm

Cheryl

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2973

3533 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Tue Feb 1, 2022 1:05pm

Kelvin1960 wrote on Tue Feb 1, 2022 9:25am:

Hi Cheryl

We use so much more gas than you  ... I think you need to have a chat with my wife ....

I forgot to mention that we use the propane for the gas hob, but my wife prefers an electric oven.

We've also got a gas hob which we use a lot as it hardly costs anything and we bought a basic gas oven for the outside kitchen on the terrace rather than use the electric one during peak hours.
The insulation makes a huge difference and being able to spend the days outside with the sun (most days) beating through is much nicer than sitting indoors in a typical spanish villa which is designed to keep the sun out!
Layers and a good quilt also help.

Kimmy11

Posted: Wed Feb 2, 2022 8:32pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Wed Feb 2, 2022 8:32pm

Hi David,

We have these electric storage heaters, which charge during the low-rate period at night:

https://www.elnur-global.com/electric-storage-heaters/

Ours are the older style, non-digital version, but still controllable individually on each unit.  The only downside we've found is that, in the crossover of seasons, you need to check the weather forecast, otherwise they could be belting out heat when it's 25C+ outside.  Our solution was to get rid of the inset gas fire in the lounge and installed a much more efficient pellet burner - and much cleaner than a log burner.  Knowing yesterday that today was going to be warm, I turned off the storage heaters yesterday and we've been using the pellet burner this evening.  The storage heaters are wired into the consumer box, so it's just a case of flicking a switch; likewise the pellet burner.

Kind regards,

Kim

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